Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy to Hold 2nd Annual Research Symposium on Contemporary Applications for Specialty Pharmacy Research

The Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP) will hold its 2nd Annual Research Symposium, October 2, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event will bring together top health care leaders to discuss the latest research on the management and utilization of specialty pharmaceuticals as a means of improving patient outcomes.

While offering life-saving options, some specialty products can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year per patient. As the pipeline of specialty pharmaceuticals expands, and the number of patients using them grows, a key role for managed care pharmacists will be to maximize the benefits of these agents while building systems and processes to reduce risks and costs to patients.

The FMCP Research Symposium will look specialty pharmacy issues from a variety of stakeholder positions.

"We are proud to present this program on such an important and timely topic," said FMCP executive director Welton O'Neal. "The agenda that we have arranged will focus on how current research can help providers and patients alike make smart, evidence-based decisions when using these therapies."

Topics to be discussed include:

• Bringing about health care transformation through evidence based research: the challenges introduced by specialty pharmaceuticals
• Using real world evidence to optimize the effectiveness of specialty pharmaceuticals
• Transforming research into action: a specialty pharmacy research showcase

"The symposium is an important part of FMCP's mission to further knowledge in the pharmacy field and, ultimately, to improve patient health through better medication utilization," said Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM, chief executive officer of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. "This event brings together top thought leaders to share insights, ask questions, and discuss issues that are impacting a significant part of the health care industry."

The FMCP Research Symposium will be held immediately prior to AMCP's 2012 Educational Conference. For more information visit www.amcpmeetings.org and click on FMCP Research Symposium.

About FMCP

The Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a research, education and philanthropic organization supporting the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. The mission of FMCP is to help people optimize medication therapy through the generation and dissemination of new knowledge. For more information, visit www.fmcpnet.org .

About AMCP

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is a national professional association of pharmacists and other health care practitioners who serve society by the application of sound medication management principles and strategies to improve health care for all. The Academy's more than 6,000 members develop and provide a diversified range of clinical, educational and business management services and strategies on behalf of the more than 200 million Americans covered by a managed care pharmacy benefit. AMCP will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in 2013. For more information, visit www.amcp.org .

SOURCE Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP)